Ordo — Restaurant in Highland Park

Edit: To the owner who responded to my review, it's clear in my review what the problem was. Your kitchen served up raw steak and undercooked vegetables. Also, if you're open to having a dialogue with customers, then you should leave your contact information in your response.

The first time I ordered their filet mignon with steamed veggies it was perfect. The kitchen nailed the temperature of the steak and the steamed veggies were well cooked. After my first visit, I was hoping to be a regular customer at Ordo, but the second visit left me questioning whether this restaurant is worth another visit.

I ordered the same entree on my second visit - filet mignon between medium rare and medium, but it was served blue rare. Before cutting into the steak, I could already tell that it was badly undercooked and blue rare because of how soften it was against my fork and knife. And true enough, the steak was RAW. I should've taken a picture of it, but I was so hungry I just wrapped it in aluminium foil and threw it in my home oven to bring it up to temperature, but of course the steak was already compromised. And the side of steamed vegetables were also not fully cooked. The carrots, broccolini, and cauliflower were RAW as well. It seems like the kitchen rushed the order, so everything was raw.

Also, on my first visit, the steak came with a red, spicy sauce, but on my second visit, it came with a different sauce topped with rosemary. It's like visiting two different restaurants.

Two very different quality and consistency on just two visits. I understand that the kitchen was busy tonight, but it's no excuse to serve up such poor quality control. The kitchen can't tell that they've undercooked their steak, but as a customer, I could tell just by the feel of the steak before cutting into it. Go figure. If a kitchen can't keep up with a full restaurant to the extent that they're serving up raw steaks and vegetables, then the restaurant needs to downsize or get more cooks...

I’ve been loving Highland Park restaurants, and a spot that I checked out recently was Order which is central asian cuisine that is 100% halal as well. The apricot kompot was a first to me, and it wasn’t overpowering on the sweetness which was nice. The Lamb Shorpo had a rich broth with tender lamb, and mushroom soup was good as well. the salmon tartare was on the lighter side and the spicy mayo is always appreciated in pretty much any dish. The carrots here are bright and have a crazy crunch mixed in garlic and spices. The best appetizer I had however were the beef samsy which had flaky layers encasing juicy meat, onion, and spices. For the mains, as Arby’s would say “we have the meats” and there was no shortage starting with the lamb shashlik paired with onions and grilled peppers. The sauce is perfect for those looking for a kick mixed with some fresh flavor. The manty here are the best I’ve had and I’ve Manty at several other restaurants, I’m not just saying that. The beef lula kebab are also good and come with that semi-spicy sauce that would actually be better described as a salsa. The Plov here is good, but I did have more favorites throughout the meal that I definitely deem must-orders. Grilled canadian salmon is good if you’re looking for a lighter protein, and tasted like was grilled right and not dried out. Last but not least, we had mixed berries tea which was on the sweeter side, I would ask without honey as well as two of the desserts beginning with the Napoleon cake which was dense, and the better out of the two, but I’ve had better. Additionally, the honey cake didn’t really taste like honey cake, but more of just a...

We chose Ordo for our date night, and it exceeded every single expectation, turning a simple dinner into a memorable experience. The atmosphere was perfect—vibrant enough to feel lively but still intimate enough for a great conversation. From the moment we sat down, our waiter, Jack, was our guide for the evening, and we decided to put our entire meal in his hands. It was the best decision we could have made. He recommended everything from the appetizer to the dessert, and he didn't lead us wrong once. The journey started with the Adjarian Khachapuri. It arrived as a stunning, hot bread boat filled with a savory mix of cheeses. Jack mixed a golden egg yolk into it right at our table, and the result was absolutely amazing—cheesy, gooey perfection. For our entrees, we had the Shashlik skewers, which were incredibly tender and perfectly marinated, and the Lagman, a delicious dish of pan-fried beef with wonderful homemade noodles. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, dessert arrived. We tried both the honey cake and the Napoleon cake on Jack's suggestion, and both were spectacular. He also recommended a rough coffee to go with them, which was the perfect, bold finish to an incredible meal. What truly made the evening was the combination of phenomenal food and Jack's impeccable, friendly service. Ordo is a fantastic spot for a date night, but I could easily see bringing a group of friends here as well. We are already planning...